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Vikings have mixed feelings about facing Peterson in Week 1

Scott Cunningham / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Adrian Peterson won't have to wait long to face his former team - his New Orleans Saints take on the Minnesota Vikings on the first Monday night of the season.

Some of his ex-teammates are anxious about what he could accomplish against them, but defensive end Everson Griffen is excited to finally get a chance to take down Peterson.

"It's going to be fun to be able to hit him," Griffin told Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune at voluntary workouts Tuesday before questioning the likelihood of a Saints-Vikings Week 1 matchup. "I don't know about the odds of that...

"Saints, Week 1 and then all of a sudden they sign Adrian. I think the NFL had a little inside scoop on what was going on."

Fellow Vikings defender Xavier Rhodes didn't question the scheduling, but will find it peculiar to play against Peterson in Minnesota.

"It's going to be weird, first of all, seeing him in a different colored jersey and different logo," Rhodes said. "It's also going to be weird (him) playing against us on our home field."

The cornerback didn't share Griffin's excitement about tackling the future Hall of Famer.

"But we have to do what we have to do," admitted Rhodes. "If he gets the ball, we have to tackle him."

At least one of Peterson's offensive teammates knows better than to desire facing the running back after sharing the field with him for six years.

"So I don't have to tackle him," tight end Kyle Rudolph said Tuesday. "If Adrian and I are on the field at the same time, there's a big problem."

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